Party on a Half Shell

Ocean State Oyster Festival returns to Riverwalk Park

Posted
Friday, August 31, 2018 12:02 pm

Photo by Mike Braca

By Robert Isenberg

You might call the oyster the pearl of Rhode Island waters. These dynamic bivalves are an essential part of any coastal ecosystem, and they taste great, too. You can dress up an oyster in any sauce or garnish you like, but the most diehard fans eat them naked, in one confident slurp.

The Ocean State Oyster Festival is a one-day celebration of the state’s favorite shellfish, taking place in Riverwalk Park. You can shuck oysters, eat oysters, and - perhaps most important of all - learn about oysters from the growers who raise them. Sponsored by the Ocean State Aquaculture Association (OSAA), the festival aims to educate locals about the importance of sustainable aquaculture, which is why organizers have teamed up with water preservationists Save the Bay.

Visitors can also enjoy live music and oyster-centric events, such as the annual “shuck-off.” There will be plenty of libations to match, including local craft brews and spiked ginger beer.

Proceeds benefit Save the Bay’s after-school programs, and volunteers will attempt to recycle every scrap, thanks to a partnership with The Compost Plant and Nature Conservancy RI. Fittingly, the discarded oyster shells will contribute to the construction of artificial reefs. September 22, Riverwalk Park